MY360: A Fresh Start

Yesterday at a packed press conference inside the BankAtlantic Center’s AvMed All-Star Café, SSE was proud to announce a change in ownership, as local businessmen and passionate hockey fans Cliff Viner and Stu Siegel took over as Co-General Partners of the Florida Panthers, the BankAtlantic Center and all of SSE’s operating entities.

(You can see extensive coverage of the announcement on FloridaPanthers.com)

In front of the assembled crowd, which included media, local politicians and other VIPs, as well as SSE executives, Cliff and Stu talked about a new era of accountability, accessibility, community outreach and, an overall culture of winning.

It was a historic day for our organization, as both Cliff and Stu underscored the great personal and professional responsibility to succeeding in the task that is set before them.

I am sure many fans and media will take a wait-and-see approach to the two new leaders of this company, but we all must admit one thing: a clear goal was set yesterday, and that goal is to win. And I’m not sure that, as a fan, you can ask anymore than that.

So far, winning is exactly what the Panthers have done. Since Cliff and Stu officially took over as Panthers Co-General Partners last week, the Cats are 2-0-1, not to mention the 5-2-1 record in our last eight games. With a tough three-game road trip ahead of us this week, before an incredible three-game Thanksgiving week, I’m hoping our Cats will continue their winning ways.

That said, the point that really struck a chord with me during yesterday’s press conference, was accountability. Both Cliff and Stu spoke at length about everyone in the organization being accountable for their actions and decisions, and that begins with us on the business side.

We have to be accountable for giving our fans great value, and enticing new fans to come to the BankAtlantic Center to support the Panthers. We want to give fans a winning product on the ice, yes, but we also want to create an incredible atmosphere for every home game.

So its up to us to provide the value, the experience and the family atmosphere that makes Panthers home games the best live sporting experience in South Florida. It’s also up to us to be good business partners, to exude class and professionalism, and to enhance our community outreach.

Change such as this tends to cast a spotlight on the core initiatives of our business, and with that spotlight must come a renewed focus and commitment to doing it better and more efficiently.

That said, I truly believe the change at the top will give us a fresh start, a chance to take the Panthers organization to the next level, and a fresh canvas on which to shape our future.

Since joining Sunrise Sports & Entertainment in September of 2003, Michael R. Yormark has guided the organization into a new era of growth and success. For his efforts, devotion and dedication to SSE and the Florida Panthers, he was promoted to the position of President on Aug. 13, 2007.

Yormark and his staff have worked diligently to build and re-brand Florida Panthers L.L.L.P. into Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, a first-class sports and entertainment company, and to ensure that the BankAtlantic Center lives up to its reputation as the “Center of it All” in South Florida. SSE serves as an umbrella for a diverse portfolio of operating entities that includes the BankAtlantic Center, the Florida Panthers, incredible ICE, Sawgrass Live presented by BankAtlantic and the Oz real estate development project.

Yormark has built SSE into a comprehensive company with its values rooted in innovative marketing and public relations strategies, first-rate customer and client services, aggressive sales and diverse revenue pursuits. For that reason, Yormark and his staff were able to grow sponsorship sales significantly in a touch economy, maintain an average attendance of over 15,500 for Panthers games, renew over 90-percent of season ticket holders on an annual basis, and sell out all premium suite inventory (suites and clubs) for five straight years running.

In addition, Yormark has overseen dramatic improvements to the BankAtlantic Center in the last few years including two Las Vegas-style outdoor marqees’ and two huge Lobby Vision LED boards inside the arena’s lobby. He has also spearheaded an innovative sponsorship activation strategy that included the creation of his Brand Activation Team and led to the development of the Publix Kids Korner, IT’s Sugar Sweet Spot and various other branded destinations that are the first of their kind in the professional sports industry.

Yormark has been consistently recognized for his and the
company’s considerable success through national awards and exposure such as the SportsBusiness Journal’s Forty Under 40 Award, the Stanley Cup of Business, the City of Sunrise Business Leader Award, the South Florida Businss Journal’s Business of the Year Award Nomination, profiles in Newsweek magazine, Sports Illustrated and on CNBC, a top 12 worldwide ranking for the BankAtlantic Center in Pollstar Magazine, an Arena of the Year Nomination from Pollstar and more.

Yormark has also dedicated considerable time to the South Florida community including acting as President of the Sunrise Foundation, sitting on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County and being a member of the Young President’s Organization.

That said, Yormark continues to expand the business and build the SSE brand through projects such as the expansion of incredible ICE and the development of the area surrounding the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise through Oz.